Road surfacing machine



Dec. 17, 1935. F, 1 2,024,764

ROAD SURFACING MACHINE Filed Dec. 3, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Bnventor f PA/VK f. HILL (Ittornegs Dec. 17, 1935. F. E. HILL ROAD SURFACING MACHINE File D30- 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 NuQR 3noentor FRANK E H!!! (lttom eg Dec. 17, 1935;

F. E. HILL ROAD SURFAC ING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Shed :s 1

Filed Dec. 3, 1932 Jmmtoc Patented ,Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to a road or pavement surfacing machine, and includes among its objects:

To generally improve machines of this type by rendering the same more convenient in handling and efiicient in operation with reduced wear of running parts by adequate lubrication;

More specifically, to provide means whereby the machine may be adjusted to vary its weight or center of gravity with respect to the cutter or surfacing head or member to adjust the working pressure on said head or member;

To provide a simple, easily operated means for adjusting the machine vertically with respect to the surfacing head or member to conform to varying working levels and conditions;

To provide a. simple and efficient type of lubricating system for the running parts which is particularly adapted for machines of this type;

To provide an improved type of mount for the caster or carrying wheel whereby the latter may be easily and quickly thrown into and out of carrying position.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a road surfacing machine embodying the features of the invention in their preferred form;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in section and side elevation of the forward portion of the machine, particularly showing the lubricating system;

Fig. 4 is a view in detail of an adjusting lever and cooperating parts;

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of an impeller for the oil-circulating system;

Figs. 6 and '7 are detail views in plan and. sectional elevation of a combined impeller chamber cover and oil filter for said system;

Fig. 8 is a f.-agmen tary view of the rear portion of the frame of the machine showing in sectional side elevation an alternative means for adjusting the weight of the machine relatively to the surfacing member; and Fig. 8a is a vertical section thereof;

Figs. 9 and 10 are fragmentary views in plan and vertical section. respectively, of a. modified type of surfacing head or disk for use with the machine.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 5 indicates side frame members and 5 cross connectors or stiffeners. The frame members 5 as here shown converge at an intermediate point as indicated at 5a and at the handle extremity of the machine are bent upwardly as at 5?).

The handle '3 of the machine is preferably adjustably connected to the upwardly-bent extremity 5b of the side frame members 5 by means such as U-shaped clamping bolts 8 and nuts 8a. By loosening the clamps 8, the handle may be adjusted to conform to the desires of the operator, a feature which is of marked advantage in a ma.- chine of this type. It will be obvious that other means for adjustingthe handle could be adopted, the object being to provide a handle which may be adjusted to conform to the desires of the operator.

The machine may be provided with any preferred type of prime mover, that here shown being a gas engine generally indicated at P which is thrown into driving engagement with drive shaft 9-9a by means of the clutch l0 and lever Ilia, shaft 99a being provided with a universal -Nut I 8 is peripherally notched and adjustably locked in position by a lock-bar 2B, which engages in any one of saidnotches and is pinned at one end to the housing i2 and held in locked 1 position by a lock-nut 2i. The inner end of shaft 9a is provided with bevel drive pinion 22 which meshes with a drive gear 23. Gear 23 is secured by key 25 to a vertical shaft or spindle 24 which drives the cutter head or disk assembly to be described. The base of the housing 3 is provided with side lugs or flanges i3a which are secured to the frame members 5a. A bearing cover 25 is secured to the bottom of the housing by screws 21. At its lower extremity, shaft 24 is provided with a packing nut 28 which is threaded into cover 26 and is notched on its periphery and adjustably locked in position by a lock bar 29 which engages in any one of said notches and is secured to plate 26 by screw 30. A packing gland 3| is positioned in plate 26 to provide an effective seal against leakage of lubricant from the lower extremity of the spindle-mounting assembly. 32 denotes an annular shoulder formed on shaft 24 and 33 denotes a bearing assembly for the lower extremity of said shaft or spindle.

At its upper extremity, shaft or spindle 24 is provided with a bearing assembly 34, and spacers 35, 36 and 31. The top of vertical housing I3 is provided with a flanged cap 38 which is secured to said housing by cap screws 39. The top of spindle or shaft 24 is threaded and thereon is applied a washer 49 and nut M.

A feature of the present invention is the lubrieating system, which is particularly adapted for machines of this type. A description of this system follows:- 7

Around the spindle 24 above the bearing 13 is mounted an oil-impeller 42, shown in detall plan inFig. 5, said impeller being provided with a plurality of blades 42a which are preferably inclined backwardly with respect to the direction of rotation of the shaft or spindle 24. This impeller may be mounted for positive rotation with spindle 24, but in the present instance it depends for its drive upon frictional contact with hearing collar 33a below the thrust collar 43 above. In the base of impeller 42 one or more holes or oil passages 42b are formed, to permit a certain amount of oil to be fed down into the bearing 33. The impeller 42 is provided with a necked portion or boss 42c around which, but preferably out of contact therewith, is positioned a combined impeller chamber cover and oil filter member 44,

note Figs. 6 and '7. Member 44 is formed with a 'be substituted by any suitable means adapted for the purpose, the object being to filter the oil as it passes into the impeller chamber 42d. Member 44 is preferably provided with means for holding it clear of the impeller, in the form of screws 45 which are spaced radially and thread-ed into the housing l3 and engage an annular groove or recess (1 formed in the periphery of member 44.

The main vertical housing i3 is provided with an oil passage 46 which communicates at its lower end with the impeller chamber 42d and feeds at its upper end into a chamber 4'! provided at the upper extremity of spindle 44. Oil from this chamber circulates down through an oil passage 48, formed partly in housing i3 and partly in housing l2, into chamber 49. which surrounds theshaft 9a and supplies bearings l4 and Ma. Oil from top chamber 41 also circulates down around bearing 34 into main central chamber 59, and oil from chamber 49 also flows into chamber 53. From chamber 50 the oil passes through filter 440 into the impeller chamber 42d. Passage 48 is preferably provided with a filter and breather cap or screw 5! It will be seen that the system provides a posi tive circulation for a suitable lubricant such as oil and that the oil is filtered during circulation, any sediment remaining in the bottom of the main central chamber 50, thereby ensuring a constant supply of clean, cooled oil to the bearings and gears. The system is simple and is far superior yet requires very few additional parts as compared to road surfacing machines which depend on heavy gear lubricant. Oil of varying degrees of viscosity may be used in the system, since there are no restricted passages for the oil to pass through during circulation.

The surfacing head assembly may be of any preferred type, that shown more particularly in Fig. 3 consisting, briefly, of a carrier plate 52 which is keyed to the lower end of spindle 24, upper and lower disks 53 and 54 which are secured to said plate as by bolts 55, and cutter wheels 56, the latter rotating in openings formed in said disks and being mounted on trunnions 51 which are positioned in cooperating recesses therefor, not shown, formed between the disks. A retaining nut 58 is threaded on the lower end of the shaft or spindle 24. The surfacing head shown in the drawings may be replaced by any desired type of surfacing disk or tool adapted for the work belng performed.

Figs. 9 and 10 show another form of surfacing head assembly. In this instance the cutter wheels and trunnions are mounted in a plate or casting 53a which is detachably secured to the carrier plate 52 by bolts 52a and has radially extending bearing holes 531) formed therein which holes open out at the periphery of the plate to permit insertion of trunnions 57a for the wheels 56. The inner end of each trunnion is formed with a locking notch 512) which receives the edge of an annular angle-shaped lock plate or member 54a. This lock plate is shown as secured to the top of the plate 53a by bolts 541), any suitable number of which may be used. This type of unit has the advantages of ease in manufacture and assembly and convenience in removing and replacing the cutting wheels, since all that is required for the latter operation is to detach the lock plate 54a and any or all of the trunnions 51a may be removed radially from the periphery of the plate 53a, permitting the cutter wheels 56 to be removed from the openings provided therefor.

Another'feature of the present invention resides in the provision of simplified, easily operated means whereby the machine may be readily adjusted in a vertical direction, and in conjunction with such adjustment means are also provided for increasing or decreasing the weight on the surfacing head to conform to varying types of surfacing work. With this object in view, the rear extremity of the machine is mounted on a crank type axle 59, said axle being formed with a crank portion 59a. Secured to the inner side of the crank 59a is an adjusting lever 60, note particularly Fig. 4. The lower extremity of this lever is in the form of a quadrant 60a formed with a plurality of adjusting holes 6!. The holes 6| are adapted to register with corresponding adjusting holes 62 formed in the rear extremity of the frame member 5. To hold the frame in fixed adjusted position relative to the axle, means such as a bolt 63 may be passed through the registering holes when the frame has been moved to adjusted position. The frame members 5 are rotatably mounted on the axle 59 by means of bearing brackets 64.

When it is desired to adjust the machine vertically, bolt 83 is removed and the handle 6! is moved in an arc, whereupon the crank is also moved in an arc bringing the machine to the desired level, the bolt 63 then being inserted to hold the parts in adjusted position. This adjustment is provided primarily to accommodate varying heights of work such as curb stones and the like where the machine is resting on a surface lower or higher than the surface to be operated upon, or to lower the machine to conform to wear of the surfacing member, as in cases where an abrasive disk or stone is used.

In many types of work it is of advantage to vary the weight on the surfacing head or member. For example, less weight is required for green, relatively soft concrete than is required in cases Where the concrete has hardened through ageing. With the foregoing in mind, I have provided means for shifting the weight of the machine, or its center of gravity, with respect to the surfacing member, said means being designed so as to coordinate with the means for adjusting the machine vertically. In the main figures Of the drawings, this adjustment consists in P forming a plurality of holes 64a, note particularly Figs. 2 and 4, in the rear extremity of the frame members 5, the bearing brackets 64 on the axle 59 being adjustably secured to said frame members by means such as bolts 64b adapted for interchangeable positioning in said holes. These holes 64a are so spaced relatively to the holes 62 that the arc in which the quadrant GOa'moves will always bring the holes 6| therein into proper registration with the holes 62 in the side of the frame members regardless of longitudinal adjustment of the said members with respect to the bearing brackets 64.

In Figs. 8 and 8a, the adjustment structure for shifting the weight of the machine relatively to the surfacing head or member and for vertical adjustment is such that no disconnection of parts is required to make the adjustment. In this instance the bearing brackets 64 are in the form of sliding blocks 64a in which the axle 59 is journaled, the sa d blocks being grooved to receivethe frame members therein. The blocks are slidingly mounted in brackets 64b. Adjusting screws 64c are rotatably mounted in brackets 84b and provided with handles 64d. By turning handles 64d, blocks 6411 together with axle 59, or the rear truck as a whole, will be shifted longitudinally with respect to the machine, thereby throwing greater or less weight on the surfacing member as the case may be. The axle is held against rotation by arm 601) which is secured thereto as by welding or otherwise. At its upper end arm 60b has swiveled therein a screw Sl'lc which extends forwardly and is threaded through a rotatable block 50d mounted in an anchor bracket Bile which is secured to the frame membets 5.

By adjusting screw 60c, axle 59 will be caused to turn, and due to the crank portion 59a thereof,

the machine will be raised or lowered. depending upon the forward or rearward travel of said screw.

The machine is provided with an advantageous type of caster assembly for transporting the machine from one place to the other. This assembly comprises a yoke or frame 65, note particularly Figs. 1 and 2, which is mounted on a cross shaft 65. At its one extremity, the yoke converges and is secured to a caster plate 61 which is provided with a bracket 68 and a caster wheel 69, and at its opposite extremity the yoke is pro vided with a counter-balance or weight 65a. At the handle extremity of the machine, a latch for holding the caster in carrying position is provided, said latch being journaled in the side frame members 5a and having formed on one side thereof a treadle or crank handle 10a. The onc end of the latch isadapted to contact with a lug ll formed on the yoke member 65.

When it is desired to bring the caster 69 into carrying position, the yoke 65 is swung upwardly and the latch 10 turned so that its one end contacts with the lug H. When it is desired to throw the caster out of carrying position, the yoke or frame 65 is raised sufficiently to permit the latch 10 to clear the weight 65a whereupon the yoke drops by gravity and moves the cast-er 69 clear of the road surface.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the machine is rugged in construction, and due to its circulating lubricating system, which is well sealed. the running parts are insured maximum life. The means for shifting the weight on the grinding head or disk and for adjusting the machine vertically has been designed with simplicity of construction and operation in view, it being understood that various modifications may be adopted within the spirit and scope of the invention to obtain the same result.

I claim:-

l. In a road surfacing machine, a surfacing unit, supporting frame members, wheels and a crank axle on which the rear extremities of said members are mounted, an adjusting lever for adjusting the machine vertically and provided with a quadrant fixed to the crank portion of said axle, said quadrant and frame members being provided with spaced adjusting holes adapted to register at varying arcuate positions of said quadrant, detachable means for fixing the quadrant to the frame, means for movably supporting the frame on the axle, and means for adjusting said last-named means to shift the machine relatively to the axle and vary the weight on the surfacing unit. said last-named adjusting means being coordinated with said first-named adjusting means so that the adjusting holes will register at varying positions of adjustment.

2. In a road surfacing machine, a rear truck, a. main supporting frame mounted on said truck, and a caster assembly for carrying the front portion of the machine, said assembly comprising a counterbalanced pivotally mounted frame, a caster carried by one end of said frame, and a latch journaled in the main frame of the machine and adapted to engage the caster frame and hold the latter in carrying position.

3. In a road surfacing machine, a surfacing unit, a supporting frame, wheels and a crank axle on which said frame is mounted, means for ad-. justing the machine vertically including a quadrant fixed to the crank portion of said axle and detachably fixed to the frame, said quadrant and frame being provided with spaced adjusting holes adapted to register at varying arcuate positions of said quadrant, means for movably supporting the frame on the axle, and means for adjusting said last-named means to shift the machine relatively to the axle and vary the weight on the surfacing unit, said lastnamed adjusting means being coordinated with said first-named adjusting means so that the adjusting holes will register at varying positions of adjustment.

. 4. In a road surfacing machine, a surfacing unit, a supporting frame, wheels and a crank axle on which said frame is mounted, means connected to the crank portion of said axle and detachably connected to the frame for swinging the crank in an arc to thereby adjust the machine vertically, 5'

means for positively fixing the crank in its adjusted position, and means coordinated with said crank-adjusting means for shifting the machine forwardly or rearwardly relatively to the axle to vary the weight on the surfacing unit.

5. In a road surfacing machine, a surfacing unit, a supporting frame, wheels and a crank axle on which said frame is mounted, means connected to the crank portion of said axle and detachably connected to the frame for swinging the crank in an arc to thereby adjust the machine vertically, means coordinated with said crankadjusting means for shifting the machine forwardly or rearwardly relatively to the axle to vary the weight on the surfacing unit, and means for positively fixing the adjusted parts in both positions of adjustment.

FRANK E. HILL. 

